Coin-controlled mechanism



April 9, 1929. w, H, R WE 1,708,741

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 60 65 m 'ENTOR.

WILLIAM H. ROWE BY q a April 9, 1929. RO 1,708,741

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 412 6'5 54 53 32 4'7 4 35 \\\\w-\\\\\\\\\\\\\wwmwm 7 mm 4 a 25 3 7i g 26 H 4.0 22 rim y mm k 21 =1 45 a 2:: 46 46 s 20 w- 49 50 28 65 F E g. 7

if 32 z? 42 :4 53 35 1 y V .26 40 21 [6 2.5 u a ii H i 46 5g 6 5! l: 25 52 v. v 60 49 50 INVENTOR.

WILUAM H. ROWE A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

? UNITED STATES 1,70 ,741 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ROWE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIIIOBNIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed. June 15, 1925. Serial No. 37,067.

with vending. machines.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a coin actuated mechanism wherein the operating plunger is freed only upon the in-v troduction of a plurality of coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin freed mechanism including a single plunger and wherein it is necessary to insert a plurality of coins to operate the mechanism which includes a novel form of locking bolt. 2

A further ob'ect of the invention is to provide a coin freed mechanism wherein a single operating plunger is employed in conjunction with a plurality of locking bolts and wherein each bolt must be independently actuated by an introduced coin to effect operation of the mechanism.

Otherobjects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyin drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front e evation showing the application of my invention to a vending machine. I

Fig. 2'is a central sectional view through a vending machine equipped with my invention; g

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section showing parts of my coin controlled mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 4 is asection on line 4-4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the locking bolts in top plan; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in the releasing position; and

'Fig. 7 is a view showing the relation of parts after delivery of the vended articles has been effected.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown a case for my vending machine at 10. This case as shown comprises a front portion 11, which may be provided with a plurality of transparent panels 12 and with a longitudinally extending hopper 14 disposed adjacent the panels 12 Under modern merchandising methods, a great number of articles'are now prepared in packages for the retail trade. These packages contain articles in definite numbersand the retail price of these articles is usually established and well'known. As an example, I may refer to packages of cigarettes which are now sold in retail stores. These cigarettes sell at various prices and usually the selling price is such that it requires two or more coins to make the desired sum.

For instance,'to make the correct change for a fifteen cent package of cigarettes requires that the purchaser have a dime and a nickel, and in order that cigarettes or other packages that retail at fifteen cents, may be coin actuated mechanism which may be operated upon the introduction of the two coins be employed. For this purpose, I have designed the following structure which is one embodiment of my invention.

The case 10 is provided with supporting members 15 adjacent the bottom of the stack of articles 16, and in the rear of this I rovide a. plurality of delivery slides 16' w ich extend to a point 17 adjacent the front of the casing 10. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the stacked articles 16 are superimposed in tiers upon the supporting mem bers. These supportinmembers engage the two ends of the artic es so that a plunger maymove between them.

It will be apparent that when the lowermost article 16 is pushed rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 that it will fall on the delivery slide 16' and the articles above it will move down to engage the supsuccessfully vended, it is necessary that a vide' a shoulder 25 which is adapted to engage a stop member 26 which is secured in a U-shaped stri of metal 27 best shown in Fig. 4. This -shaped strip serves as a guide for theplunger 20 and comprises a bottom portion 28 and side portions 29. Each side portion. is provided with laterally extending flanges 30 which fit upon a stepped portion on strips 31. which are 5?:

v 32 of the vendin inner faces of the sides 29 of the U-shaped strip 27 (see Fig. '4) and these slots 35 are of: sufiicient length and thickness to barely allow entry of the proper coin.

In the description to follow I will describe my invention as adapted to be 0 erated on the insertion of a dime and nicke although it will be understood that the invention with equal facility can be made to operate with a nickel and a penny, a dime and a penny, two nickels, or in fact by' any combination wherein two coins are used regardless of whether the coins are of the'same or different denominations.

It will also be understood that suitable fraud prevention devices may be used in connection with my invention to prevent use of slugs, counterfeit coins, etc. These devices will be the subject matter of an application to be filed later.

Adjacent the reduced portion 22 of each operating plunger 20, I provide a shoulder 40 which is adapted to normally engage the rearv end 41 of a pair of independent locking bolts 42 which are each pivoted upon the same pivot member 43 shown as extending.

across the sides 29 of the U-shaped member 27. The plunger 20 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is of considerable thickness so that it has I a sliding fit in the bottom of the members 29. The two pivoted locking bolts 42'each have a width substantially equal to one-half the width of the plunger 22 and these locking bolts are mounted so that they may move independently about the ivot 43.

Disposed beneath the s ots- 35 and on each face of the plunger 20 is a' coin slot 45 which is defined by curved'tapering sides 46 and back 47. In Fig. 3 the front coin slot is shown of the size to accommodate coin such as a nickel while the coin slot onthe other sideof the plunger and shown in dotted lines is of the size to accommodate a dime. The coin slots are of sufiicient width so that when a nickel and a dime are inserted the center of gravity'of these coins will'be disposed low enough so that the coins will travel along the pocketformed by the slot and by the adjacent face of the member 29.

A block 48 is fitted between the slots 35 to guide the coins.

If no coins are inserted, or but a single coin is inserted, when the plunger 20 is I carrying the coins inward moved to the left the shoulder 40 thereof will engage the end 41 of the pivoted locking pin 42 to prevent further movement so that no delivery is effected. When, however, the

'proper COlIlS are inserted, the perimeter of these coins will engage the inclined faces of 16. This movement of the plunger actuates against the tension of a spring 49 which is fastened at one end/to a tongue 50 struck,

from bottom 28 and at the other end to a pin 52 secured in the'plunger 20.

As the plunger is advanced to deliver the article the coins pass along the locking bolts 42 until they reach recesses 53 which are arranged on the outer portions of the locking bolts. When the recesses 53 are reached the locking bolts drop down. The recess '53 terminates in a coin releasing cam 54 which merges into two winged portions 55 as shown in Fig. 5. The construction of the cams 54 is such that as the locking bolts 42 advance the cams 54 will engage the inner face of each coin and will tilt the upper portion of the coins outwardly to free t em from the slots 45. and cause them to fall into a coin chute 60 whence they pass to a coin box 61. The chutes 60 are arranged above inclined walls 63 down which the coins slide to the coin receptacle 61.

In the event that a coin smaller than the proper-coin is inserted in aslot35, this coin will pass directly through the coin slots 45 down a chute 65 into the delivery portion 17 of the vending machine. The. chutes 65 it will be noted pass through the bottom wall of the inclined coin guide 63.

From the foregoing description-it will be apparent that I have provided an improved coin freed mechanism which." is adapted to be operated through the insertion of two coins, which is highly effective, can be readily manufactured, and which is not likely to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a coin controlled device, a supporting member, a plunger slidable-in said member, said plunger including a projecting opslot.

the pro er coin is inserted in said slot the means or preventing actuation will be released upon actuation of the plunger, and means-on said means for preventingactuation for moving the coin laterally from said 2. A coin actuating mechanism comprising a casing, a slidable coin operated plunger in said casin a pair of pivoted locking bolts normally adapted to enga e said plunger to prevent operation-thereo a coin slot in each of said locking bolts, said bolts each having a cam surface thereon adjacent to said coin slots and adapted to engage coins in said slots whereby-when said plunger is advanced, said locking bolts will be raised and means to discharge said coins laterally from said coin slots.

3. In a coin controlled device, a base, a pair of spaced retaining strips thereon, a U-shaped member having retaining flanges slidably fitted beneath said retaining strips,

a plunger slidable in said member, means for normally preventing actuation. of said plun er, and coin actuated means for releasing t e plunger, said base having a coin slot therein, and said plunger having a coin slot therein in alignment with the first mentioned coin slot.

4. In a coin controlled device, a supporting member, aplunger slidable in said member, said plunger having a projecting operating portion and havin a portion for engaging an article to be de ivered, a stop member for limiting movement of said plunger in one direction, a pair of locking bolts mounted adjacent to said plunger, said plunger having a air of coin slots therein, said plunger havlng a shoulder normally adapted to engage the end of the locking bolts, each of said locking bolts. having operating cam faces thereon, said cam faces being disposed in alignment with said coin slots whereby coins may engage said faces 'to operate the locking bolts and free the plunger, said locking bolts having side recesses therein disposed adjacent to but spaced from said lifting cam surfaces, said recesses at one end terminating in coin deliverin cam faces whereby as the plunger is a vanced the last mentioned cam faces will engage said coins to push them from. the

coin slots.

5. In a coin controlled device, a base, a retaining strip thereon, a U-shaped member having retaining flanges thereon slidably fitted beneath said retaining strip, a plunger slidable in said member, said plunger having a projecting operating portion and having a front face for engaging an article to be delivered, a stop member for limiting movement of said plunger in one direction, a

pair of locking bolts pivotally mounted above said plunger, and adapted to engage said plunger to prevent movement thereof thereof, each of said locking bolts having lifting cam faces thereon, said cam faces being each disposed in ali ment with one of said coin slots whereby t e coins will engage said cams to lift the locking bolt and free the plunger, said locking bolts having side recesses therein dis osed adjacent to but spaced from said li ting cam surface, said recesses at one end terminating in coin delivering cam faces whereby as the plunger is advanced the last mentioned cam faces will engage said coins to push them from the coin slots, said cam faces including wings projecting from the locking bolts.

6. In a coin controlled device, a base, a pair of retaining strips thereon, a U-shaped member having retaining flanges thereon fitted beneath said retaining strips, a plunger slidable in said member, said plunger having a projecting operating portion an having a front face for engaging an article to be delivered, a stop member for limiting movement of said plunger in one direction, said plunger having a tapering coin slot in each side Wall thereof, a pair of pivoted locking bolts, saidplunger havin a shoulder normally engaging one end 0 each locking bolt,

, each of said locking bolts having lifting cam from the coin slots, said cam faces including wings projecting from the locking bolts, a coin receptacle, and means to guide coins freed from said coin slots to the receptacle, said U-shaped member having a pair of coin chutes associated therewith and beneath said coin slots, said chutes leading to the deliv ery opening of the vending machine, whereby small'coins will be returned to the operator.

7. In a vending machine, a casing, a U- shaped member, means to hold said U-shaped member in said casing, a plunger, said plung- 1 er being arranged within said U-shaped member, a coin slot in one side of said plun er, said coin slot bein in part defined by the contiguous wall. of said U-shaped member, means to normally restrain movement of said plunger and means whereby when a coin is in said coin slot and the plunger is actuated said restraining means will be moved to free said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. ROWE. 

